The former Pussycat Doll turned Broadway powerhouse brings the house down with “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” earning a standing ovation and praise from legends
Nicole Scherzinger made an unforgettable mark on the 78th Annual Tony Awards with a performance that reminded the world: she’s no longer just a pop sensation — she’s a bona fide Broadway star.
On Sunday, June 8, the Sunset Blvd. leading lady took the stage at Radio City Music Hall to perform “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” the iconic ballad from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved musical. With stage smoke swirling around her and dressed in a sleek, simple black gown, Scherzinger, 46, embodied the tragic glamour of Norma Desmond — the faded film star at the heart of Sunset Blvd. — and delivered a performance that was both vocally breathtaking and emotionally raw. The audience, filled with Broadway’s brightest, responded with a well-deserved standing ovation.
The moment was made even more poignant by the introduction from Glenn Close, who originated the role of Norma Desmond on Broadway in 1993 and won a Tony for her portrayal. Now 78, Close offered warm words for Scherzinger and the production, having visited the star backstage in April after seeing the show herself. Her blessing, and visible emotion, underscored the passing of the torch — one legendary Norma honoring another.
“As If We Never Said Goodbye,” co-written by Don Black, Christopher Hampton, Amy Powers and Lloyd Webber, is considered one of the composer’s most enduring and powerful show tunes. It has been performed by icons such as Barbra Streisand and Glee’s Chris Colfer, but Scherzinger’s rendition on Tony night brought new fire and fragility to the song.
The former Pussycat Doll’s performance was not just a musical highlight of the evening — it was a celebration of her full-circle artistic journey. After earning the Laurence Olivier Award for her role in the West End revival of Sunset Blvd., Scherzinger brought the production to Broadway under the visionary direction of Jamie Lloyd. Her Broadway debut quickly earned her a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.
Scherzinger’s competition in that category included Broadway royalty: Audra McDonald (Gypsy), Jasmine Amy Rogers (Boop! The Musical), and both Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard for Death Becomes Her. Still, Scherzinger’s haunting portrayal of Norma has earned accolades not just from audiences but from Broadway veterans like Close and Patti LuPone, both of whom have portrayed Norma in past productions.
Sunset Blvd., which also stars Tom Francis as screenwriter Joe Gillis, David Thaxton, and Grace Hodgett Young, is scheduled to play its final performance at the St. James Theatre on July 13. The revival has garnered seven Tony nominations in total and is being hailed as one of the year’s most daring and stylish revivals.
The 78th Tony Awards, hosted by Cynthia Erivo, featured a dazzling lineup of talent and honored a season full of bold storytelling. Other major contenders this year included new musicals like Buena Vista Social Club and Maybe Happy Ending, as well as plays like John Proctor Is the Villain and The Hills of California.
But amid the spectacle and ceremony, Scherzinger’s performance stood out as a defining moment — not just of the night, but of her career. With poise, power, and palpable passion, Nicole Scherzinger didn’t just revisit a song. She reclaimed a dream.
